Warm Winter Salad

Description:

Sautéed radicchio, fennel and carrots are topped with chicken, walnuts and Gorgonzola in this warm and hearty main-dish salad. Serve with crusty whole-grain baguette.

Ingredients:

2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

2 pears, sliced

2 small shallots, minced

6 tablespoons sherry vinegar

4 teaspoons Dijon mustard

3 cups shredded cooked turkey, or chicken (12 ounces; see Tip)

1 large head radicchio, thinly sliced

1 large fennel bulb, cored and thinly sliced

2 large carrots, cut into matchsticks

2 tablespoons chopped walnuts, toasted (see Tip)

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper

12 large butterhead or Boston lettuce leaves

1/2 cup crumbled Gorgonzola, or goat cheese

Preparation:

1

Heat oil in a Dutch oven over medium heat. Add pears and cook, stirring occasionally, until they start to brown, about 2 minutes. Transfer to a bowl with a slotted spoon.

2

Whisk shallots, vinegar and mustard in a small bowl; add to the pan and cook, stirring constantly, for 30 seconds. Add turkey (or chicken), radicchio, fennel, carrots and walnuts. Cook, stirring occasionally, until just wilted, about 3 minutes. Return the pears to the pan and season with salt and pepper.

3

Divide lettuce leaves among 4 plates. Top with the warm salad and sprinkle with cheese.Serves 2 Variation: Halve the ingredients and prepare the recipe in a large nonstick skillet instead of a Dutch oven.

Tips:

Tips: To poach chicken breasts, place boneless, skinless chicken breasts in a medium skillet or saucepan. Add lightly salted water to cover and bring to a boil. Cover, reduce heat to low and simmer gently until chicken is cooked through and no longer pink in the middle, 10 to 12 minutes.

Place chopped walnuts in a small dry skillet and cook over medium-low heat, stirring constantly, until fragrant and lightly browned, 2 to 4 minutes.